The Next Bloggers Network Event, London. #NBNEvent

You might have seen from Instagram or Facebook that I went down to London for the Next Bloggers Network event which was held at the Soho Hotel.

Next has a bloggers network which any blogger can join and the event was hosted by them as a thank you and as a way of bringing bloggers together to share tips, listen to an expert panel and to take hundreds upon hundreds of selfies.

It was a 4.30am wake-up and because of the recent terrible floods here in North Yorkshire and the resulting disruption to the train service the previous few days, it felt a bit like a game of jeopardy and it was only when on my first train that I actually believed I would get there.

For me, travelling to our beautiful capital city is an adventure and I still get a frisson of excitement when I arrive at Kings Cross Station.

The combination of the closure of the tube station I needed with my appalling lack of direction meant I was on the last minute arriving at the beautiful hotel, so I am looking a little disheveled here in this snap taken by a lovely blogger friend, Laura whom I’d “met” via Twitter the previous evening.

We were welcomed with breakfast and with these iced biscuits that tasted divine.

Photo credit: Next

Photo credit, Next

The two hour panel session then began during which four professional bloggers gave us a little history about themselves and the evolution of their blogs as well as tips for best blog practice along with ideas for growing social media following, something which I have been consciously working on, so I found it particularly useful.

The panellist on the right hand side is Rosie Fortescue, of Made in Chelsea fame. Having never watched the show, I had no preconceptions and can report that she is intelligent, articulate and incredibly hard working. Oh, tiny and rather beautiful too.

Team Next, plus the panel. Photo credit: Next

This was followed by a delicious lunch after which there was an awards ceremony.

The afternoon ended with a cocktail…

Photo Credit: Next

…or two and cake and I was pleased to see that every other person there also took an eternity photographing their drink for Instagram before actually taking a sip.

Photo credit: Next

Photo credit: Next

I left the workshop full of ideas and enthusiasm having met some fantastic bloggers and more than a little excited for Christmas having seen the beautiful Christmas lights on Oxford Street.